Your riding is looking smooth already, Chris. I severely broke my hand a year ago, and encountered the same difficult road to recovery (as a guitarist with an injured fretting hand). The mental game is tough, when you know what you are capable of, but your body won't deliver on. The good news is it does come back after the fight, and it will come back with a new perspective and more mature approach. You keep your head up high, and I look forward to everything you contribute to the mountain bike scene.

Anyone ever done an unsupported overnight ride like this? If so, what's your packing list? I can't figure out how he can fit everything for two days in a normal-sized backpack; it looks like he's riding pretty barebones. It looks like he doesn't bring a sleeping bag though, which should help save space. Here's what I figure you'd need to bring on a ride like this: tarp for a shelter rope fire starter water filter (he may not have brought this since he dips his mug right in the river, but it would be a good idea) water bottle headlamp rain gear warm jacket

All too relevant, considering I just fractured a bone in my hand in three spots on Monday. Won't stop me from pushing it when I get back in the saddle, though!

“I'm so excited to get to the first World Cup and link GPS camera to my phone, so our team can sit in the pits and watch us smashing down the race track...seeing the hits and crashes!" Uh, Rachel apparently doesn't understand that the working range of bluetooth is only at best about 100 feet. And around trees it's going to be worse than that. Someone from Contour shouldn't have let one of their spokespeople misrepresent how a feature works like that in an official press release.